Talley-Byrne Wedding

Truth is Stranger than Fiction.

Ø Your faith journey to get here, before the altar is testimony to this

Ø Truth is, God’s love pushed you, dragged you and led you around, through and over many things to get here.

Ø The readings from God’s Word you selected give testimony to that truth

v Genesis 2nd story of creation

Ø Mysterious, poetic, divinely inspired story provides the answer of why we do this crazy thing we call falling in love

Ø The story may be mythical but it conveys the TRUTH about us – about you

Ø Truth #1: “It is not good for the man to be alone”

Ø Truth #2: God brought forth everything – FACT

Ø God gives the man naming rights Progressive Insurance Jake

Ø As beautiful and awesome are all creation nothing filled that ache in the heart of the man that he could not identify or name.

Ø God speaks another TRUTH.I will make a suitable partner for him.”

§ God solved the problem same “stuff” bone & flesh

§ The same but complementary The completion

Ø When the Adam sees Eve he knows God loves me

§ Brian, when you looked at Christina that ONE time you knew God loves you

§ Christina, when you returned that look, you too knew

Ø Truth #4: God authored/created marriage in this way

§ Brian & Christina your participation in this mystery of marriage is something ancient and holy

v St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians captures this moment well

Ø Because of your difficult journey, with Fortitude and Perseverance you have arrived at this altar to receive this sacrament

Ø For this reason you, “Rejoice* in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!”

§ You are old and wise enough to know that despite what joy this day brings, this is not the finish line, it’s just the beginning.

§ The joy of this day is real, but it does not immunize you from the challenges of married life. Yet St. Paul tells us “Have no anxiety at all”

§ Today’s joy won’t sustain you – you need the grace that flows from the sacrament and the joy Jesus imparts

v Joy we here in the gospel is free but comes with a condition

Ø “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love”

Ø What is that commandment? “love one another as I love you”

§ How did Jesus love? With a sacrificial and self-donating love

§ That is why it proper and fitting that you here at the altar – the place where Jesus’ PM is offered

§ Today you impart the Sacrament upon each other at this same altar

· Brian you pledge your self-sacrificing love to Christina

· Christina you pledge your self-donating love for Brian

Ø In God’s design one of the purposes of the Sacrament of Marriage is ‘the good of spouses’ but in that self-donating way

§ Brian, your goal is assist Christina to her highest good and vice versa

§ As disciples of Christ our highest good is the attainment of eternal life

§ So Brian get Christina to heaven make saints of each other by cooperating with the graces you will receive from this sacrament.

§ Domestic church where Jake (and future brothers and sisters) will learn his first lessons in loving Jesus

Ø This is the TRUTH about marriage, about your marriage.

Ø If you agree and if you believe then let’s proceed and declare your intentions in the presence of God and God’s Holy Church